Safety Assured As Buhari Welcomes Nuclear Energy Support From Iaea

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILLS, March 16, (THEWILL) – President Muhammed Buhari has welcomed the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for Nigeria's aspiration to generate electricity using nuclear energy.

A statement released by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, revealed that the President said he was happy that the organization was developing a program from which Nigeria will benefit.

Speaking in company of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and a number of Ministers while receiving Mr. Yukiya Amano, the Director-General of the IAEA, Buhari charged the IAEA to improve its support for Nigeria in view of the long years of its association and support for the nuclear regulatory agency.

In his address, Mr. Amano said he was pleased to see that Nigeria was taking the correct steps, so far, toward a safe usage of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The Ministers of Power, Solid Minerals, Health, Science and Technology who briefed the meeting said the country is aspiring to start a program in the coming years that will give this country one thousand megawatts of electricity in the first instance, to be increased to 4,000 megawatts thereafter.

They revealed that preparatory steps taken so far included the training of doctors and other medical specialists to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, the establishment of specialist medical centres and the procurement of necessary equipment aimed at protecting the health of the citizens.

This was in reference to a massive nuclear accident that occurred in Chernobyl, Russia, some decades ago, killing thousands.

THEWILL recalls that the country has selected two sites for nuclear power plants in Geregu, Kogi State and Itu in Akwa Ibom State.

Amano had on Monday inspected the nuclear energy facility operated by the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, NAEC, at Sheda in Kwali Local Government Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Story by David Oputah